Definition n. a small house used as a vacation property having a casual, relaxed atmosphere conducive to the guilt-free pursuit of indulgent, selfish pleasures! Follow me as I indulge my passions for music, literature, cooking and the exuberant, "wind in my hair" high of being alive and free...

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Opera York presents its spring production of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte to grace the stage at the Richmond Hill Centre For the Performing Arts with 3 performances on Febrary 27, March 3 and March 5. In keeping with the season, Cosi Fan Tutte is a light and comic opera about the consequences of a cynical old man's wager with 2 young men about the fidelity of their fiancees. Hysteria, confusion, temptation and surrender follow Don Alfonso's (played by baritone, Dion Mazerolle) announcement to Fiordiligi (played by soprano, Rachel Cleland-Ainsworth) and her sister, Dorabella (played by soprano, Marcelle Boisjoili) that their fiances have been called away to war. Aiding and abetting the deception is the clever streetwise maid to the two young women, Despina, (played by Anna Bateman). The fiances, Fernando (played by tenor, Ryan Harper) and Guglielmo (played by baritone, Anthony Cleverton) return in disguise to woo and put to the test, the fidelity of their own fiancees who turn rather quickly from grief to capitulation proving, as Don Alfonso contended, that "all women are like that" which is the rough translation of the opera's title. Opera York amassed an impressive array of talent - on stage, in the orchestra pit and behind the scenes to deliver this world-class production. A machine of well-tuned artistic and logistic ability, Opera York has established itself as a formidable presence in the Canadian arts scene with season after season of exceptional productions.

I was sooo excited and priviledged to attend their dress rehearsal last night at the centre. What I saw at rehearsal was a focussed, energy-charged assemblage, already polished to a flawless sheen and ready to take Richmond Hill by storm!

For a preview of what is in store, see below, and for the complete photo stream, which isn't nearly as breathtaking as the images of Opera York's professional photographer, (the Canadian) Greg King, click HERE!